Derry City and Sligo Rovers face at Brandywell Stadium, in a match for the 21st round of the Premier League. Sligo Rovers won at home by (2-1) the last time they met in this edition of the league, on 02-23-2018. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the last 7 matches. In fact, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 21-10-2016, in a match for the Premier League that ended in Derry City’s victory by (2-1). The goals of the match were scored by A. McEneff (64 ‘) and Barry McNamee (77’), for Derry City, and P. McCann (45 ‘), for Sligo Rovers. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
Derry City:
The home team is currently in the 4 th position, with 30 points won, after 9 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Bray Wanderers, by (2-0). In the last match, they lost in an away match against Waterford United, by (4-0). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses in away matches; against 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses at their stadium. In the last 9 home league matches Derry City has a record of 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss, so they have won 20 points out of 27 possible. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 1-0 (4 out of 9 matches). Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 19 matches in this competition, he never got the comeback in the 5 games in which he suffered the first goal. In the last 15 home matches for all competitions there are 2 periods that stand out: they have suffered 6 of their 17 goals between minutes (16′-30 ‘) and 6 of their 17 goals between (76′-90’).
The Derry City comes to this unmotivated match, fruit of the huge defeat in the Waterford field, by 4-0, totaling the third snub in the last four games played. However, the locals have managed to stay among the first four classifieds of the competition. Normally the trainer Kenny Shiels acts in 4-2-3-1, privileging the possession of ball and the organized attacks: Nicky Low is the great person in charge to create and to organize the offensive process. On the other hand, Aaron McEnuff is the best marker of the home team, with 10 goals scored. It is important to underline that the Derry City presents great competition when playing in their stadium: scored on average 1.74 goals and suffered 1.58 goals per game. There are no important absences for this game.
Sligo Rovers:
The away team is currently in the 8 th position of the league, with 17 points won, after 4 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Shamrock Rovers, by (0-0). In the last match, they tied in a home match against Limerick, by (0-0). This is a team that usually gets better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in away matches, with 27 goals scored and 24 conceded; against 5 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses at their stadium, with 15 goals scored and 19 conceded. In the last away game in this competition, they lost (2-0) against St Patrick’s. In the last 8 away matches for the championship Sligo Rovers has 2 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, so they have won 8 points out of 24 possible.
For this competition, they have not won any of the last 4 away matches. In their away matches there are a few frequent results at half-time: 0-0 (4 out of 11 matches) and 1-1 (3 out of 11 matches). The team allowed goals to the opponent in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition, so it was not very strong defensively. This is a team that marks few times is primeiro and that only managed to open the scoring in 4 of its last 19 matches for the Premier League, of these 4 came to rest in advantage in 2 and won at the end of the 90 ‘in all. In 19 games in this competition, he never got the comeback in the 12 games in which he suffered the first goal. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 10 away matches for all competitions: they have suffered 4 of their 11 goals between minutes (76’-90 ‘).
The Sligo comes to this game with a draw at home against Limerick, by 0-0, totaling the fifth game in a row without tasting the taste of victory in this competition. Due to the irregular phase that crosses, the visiting team continues in the last positions of the qualifying table. In this game away from home coach Gerard Lyttle must adopt a tactic very similar to that of the last game, that is, the 4-2-3-1, privileging the defensive organization and the counterattacks, however, in some moments of the game he must assume possession of the ball. Adam Morgan is the best scorer of the Sligo, with 4 goals scored. The inefficiency in the two sectors is something that has hurt the team away from home: scored on average 1 goal and suffered 1.38 goals per game. For this game the coach can not count on the suspended John Mahon.
PREDICTION: Derry City to win @ 1.50
